So I'm a newbie at this whole Homebrew thing. I actually just got started with it this week (because I wanted to hack Monster Hunter Generations). It's a very scary process to look at when you've got no experience, and I held off so long because I was sure I'd end up bricking my system.

But with the help of some people on this site, and various other sites, I managed to figure it all out. The problem I had when trying to understand all this, is that most people give you answers as if you already know just what you're doing. And a lot of people were basically telling me to use existing Homebrew software to update my new system, completely ignoring the fact that I've never done anything like this before.

So I wanted to share my newbie guide on getting started. I posted this in a thread for APM's MHG editor, and a lot of people have responded to me to thank me for how helpful it was. I just wanted to share with others who might be having trouble getting started.

So, start off going here: http://smealum.github.io/3ds/

Download the Homebrew Starter Kit and unzip it into the root of your 3DS SD card. It will put a file in the root and make a 3DS folder with other stuff.
Remember to unzip the contents of the Starter folder, not the folder itself.

Also get JK's Save Manager: https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-jks-savemanager-homebrew-cia-save-manager.413143/
Again, unzip it to the root and it will put everything where needed. Same as before, you want the contents, not the folder it's all in in the zip.

Assuming you're using Ocarina of Time, you need: https://github.com/yellows8/oot3dhax/releases

Now, put your OoT in your Powersaves and back up your save.
It goes in C:/Users/<Your User Name>/PowerSaves

On http://smealum.github.io/3ds/ use the Otherapp/robpin tool. Put in your system type (old or new) and the version. Hit download ropbin. It will give you a file, you don't need to save it, just keep it up for reference.
In the zip for the OoT hack, there will be a couple of folders with PowerSaves files. There's two sets, I used the bottom. You may have to try the other if it doesn't work. Go to the folder for the country your system is for, and in it find the file that matches the ropbin file that you have for reference.

Copy that file to the directory of your PowerSaves backups. Copy the name of the backup you had made, then delete/rename it, and paste the name as the new name for the file you grabbed from the OoT folder.
Then when you load up PowerSaves, you restore that file back to the cart.

Then, with your SD card back in your system, load up OoT on your 3DS. Hit A to get to the start, load up the hacked save, and when everything is loaded on screen in the game, hit A. This will boot the Homebrew.

This last part has to do with exporting your MHG save specifically:

Once in the Homebrew, put your MHG cart in, and go down the list to JK's save program. Select ExtraData, and export. Give it a name and export it.
Now you can pop your SD card in your computer, and run the MHG editor and just load up the exported file, which will be under the SD:/JKSV/ExtData/<Game Name>/<Save Name you choose>

Once you're done, save, then pop the SD back in and just do the same, except Import the extradata.

 

[Vithimiris]

Question, since you got it to work are you able to play with other people? Also does the Powersave Device act as an SD Card Reader? If so it'll save me the trip. Only thing I am missing is OOT.

 

[JamesyPoo]

Question, since you got it to work are you able to play with other people? Also does the Powersave Device act as an SD Card Reader? If so it'll save me the trip. Only thing I am missing is OOT.

Yes you are able to play with other people, and no the powersave device is only to get the hacked oot game onto your actual cartridge.

 

[Lord Blade]

Yes, I can play with others no problem. The Homebrew menu is used to export and import my saves. I still play from the game normally. I'm not running any active hacking programs or anything. It's simply a matter of exporting the save to edit it and importing it back.

And the PowerSaves isn't an SD reader. It reads what's on the cart, not the SD card. That's why you can't use PowerSaves to cheat in MHG, because the save info is on the SD card this time, not the cart.

 

[Vithimiris]

Ah. Would you be willing to give out custom Palico's then for people who need them? My group has been wanting me to make a Palico for a while now but the RNG is crippling me. Would be nice to have a custom one made so I can just level it and do what I need it to do.

 

[Lord Blade]

Well, I have a cat that I am using now.

Blade Jr
Fighting

Moves:
Furr-ious
Piercing Boomerangs
Mini Barrel Bombay
Herb Horn
Pitfall Purr-ison
Dung Bombay
Ultrasonic Horn
Big Boomerangs
Soothing Roll
Barrel Bombay

Skills:
Attack Up (S)
Handicraft
Critical Up (L)
Earplugs
Critical Up (S)
Boomerang Pro
Tremor Res
Negate Wind


Pretty much the perfect Boomerang Palico.

 

[Vithimiris]

Oh nice. I got one in a trade earlier that was Level 10. Can you set the levels?

 

[Lord Blade]

You can probably hack XP with the editor. Haven't tried.
But it's not like it's hard to level them anyway.

 

[Vithimiris]

This is true, howeve a Level 50 Cat would be nice to have. Do you have Skype/Steam or anything, talking here is a bit tedious. xD Better yet Discord works too.

 

[Lord Blade]

I'm on Steam as Lord Blade.

If you make a room, I can join and give you the cat.

 

[Vithimiris]

Ok cool. Let me add you on Steam. Oh man there's a bunch of Lord Blade's. Add me. Usagi Mogura on Steam.

 

[Meeptheworld]

So I'm a newbie at this whole Homebrew thing. I actually just got started with it this week (because I wanted to hack Monster Hunter Generations). It's a very scary process to look at when you've got no experience, and I held off so long because I was sure I'd end up bricking my system.

But with the help of some people on this site, and various other sites, I managed to figure it all out. The problem I had when trying to understand all this, is that most people give you answers as if you already know just what you're doing. And a lot of people were basically telling me to use existing Homebrew software to update my new system, completely ignoring the fact that I've never done anything like this before.

So I wanted to share my newbie guide on getting started. I posted this in a thread for APM's MHG editor, and a lot of people have responded to me to thank me for how helpful it was. I just wanted to share with others who might be having trouble getting started.

So, start off going here: http://smealum.github.io/3ds/

Download the Homebrew Starter Kit and unzip it into the root of your 3DS SD card. It will put a file in the root and make a 3DS folder with other stuff.
Remember to unzip the contents of the Starter folder, not the folder itself.

Also get JK's Save Manager: https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-jks-savemanager-homebrew-cia-save-manager.413143/
Again, unzip it to the root and it will put everything where needed. Same as before, you want the contents, not the folder it's all in in the zip.

Assuming you're using Ocarina of Time, you need: https://github.com/yellows8/oot3dhax/releases

Now, put your OoT in your Powersaves and back up your save.
It goes in C:/Users/<Your User Name>/PowerSaves
On http://smealum.github.io/3ds/ use the Otherapp/robpin tool. Put in your system type (old or new) and the version. Hit download ropbin. It will give you a file, you don't need to save it, just keep it up for reference.
In the zip for the OoT hack, there will be a couple of folders with PowerSaves files. There's two sets, I used the bottom. You may have to try the other if it doesn't work. Go to the folder for the country your system is for, and in it find the file that matches the ropbin file that you have for reference.

Copy that file to the directory of your PowerSaves backups. Copy the name of the backup you had made, then delete/rename it, and paste the name as the new name for the file you grabbed from the OoT folder.
Then when you load up PowerSaves, you restore that file back to the cart.

Then, with your SD card back in your system, load up OoT on your 3DS. Hit A to get to the start, load up the hacked save, and when everything is loaded on screen in the game, hit A. This will boot the Homebrew.

This last part has to do with exporting your MHG save specifically:

Once in the Homebrew, put your MHG cart in, and go down the list to JK's save program. Select ExtraData, and export. Give it a name and export it.
Now you can pop your SD card in your computer, and run the MHG editor and just load up the exported file, which will be under the SD:/JKSV/ExtData/<Game Name>/<Save Name you choose>

Once you're done, save, then pop the SD back in and just do the same, except Import the extradata.

Well, like I said, I'd posted it in the thread for APM's editor, and was basically responding to people in my situation asking exactly what I did to get my system set up.
Plus, I wish I had that sort of step by step when I was figuring it out. I had to muddle along myself because people often gave vague responses on how to get stuff done.

People telling me to just use the ropbin version of the file I needed. Without explaining what that was, or where or how I would figure out what my ropbin version was.
I mean, I get that most people on here are used to dealing with others who have plenty of experience and are looking more for tips than a "how to", but it's quite overwhelming for those new to all this.

hi im new to this and i think ive followed your guide step for step but mine isnt working is there a picture version i could follow or is there a video to look at?

 

[Fabax01]

Thanks! It should help a lot of guys. It's concise and readable.

 

[Onyxflamegod]

Instead of making another post, my question is somewhat relevant to this thread so I'll ask here. I've not touched my 3ds in a while, is OoThax working with whatever the newest 3ds update is, and what firmware version do I need to patch my OoT cart for before I update my system?

 

[Ricken]

Instead of making another post, my question is somewhat relevant to this thread so I'll ask here. I've not touched my 3ds in a while, is OoThax working with whatever the newest 3ds update is, and what firmware version do I need to patch my OoT cart for before I update my system?

You don't need to patch the cart, but I highly advise against updating, as you may be on a downgradable firmware... and you can do so much more with a downgraded system (11.0 is the only firmware we can't conventionally downgrade)

EDIT; and browserhax works on all firmwares 9.0 and up, so you could save some time and install OoTHax like that

 

[Onyxflamegod]

You don't need to patch the cart, but I highly advise against updating, as you may be on a downgradable firmware... and you can do so much more with a downgraded system (11.0 is the only firmware we can't conventionally downgrade)

EDIT; and browserhax works on all firmwares 9.0 and up, so you could save some time and install OoTHax like that

I've got 4 3ds'. I only use OoThax on the one I update (my otherwise 100% legit console). I usually just update my OoT cart then use the save data transfer tool to patch my eshop version after updating. I just need to know if it works on the newest FW and what the numbers are that I need to patch.

 

[Selver]

I've got 4 3ds'. I only use OoThax on the one I update (my otherwise 100% legit console). I usually just update my OoT cart then use the save data transfer tool to patch my eshop version after updating. I just need to know if it works on the newest FW and what the numbers are that I need to patch.

FW version 11.0.0-33 is a most-recent, and has no public kernel-mode exploits. At least FW 11.0.0 includes some special-case code that makes the use of Cubic Ninja and OoT for haxx more difficult (e.g., I don't think CN supports 11.0.0-33 yet). Thus, with OoT, you can run some homebrew, but others fail due to needing additional permissions that are only available when a kernel-level exploit exists.

Hope that helps....

 

[Onyxflamegod]

FW version 11.0.0-33 is a most-recent, and has no public kernel-mode exploits. At least FW 11.0.0 includes some special-case code that makes the use of Cubic Ninja and OoT for haxx more difficult (e.g., I don't think CN supports 11.0.0-33 yet). Thus, with OoT, you can run some homebrew, but others fail due to needing additional permissions that are only available when a kernel-level exploit exists.

Hope that helps....

That's exactly what I needed to know actually. The homebrews I actually do use on that console aren't kernel-level homebrews. Thank you.

 

[NubletInc]

Hey, so I followed the guide here, and got all the way to Booting the Homebrew, but once I do, my DS just jumps back to the home screen, and I cant find any of the apps or anything anywhere? Any idea what I did wrong?

 

[Teacherman]

Ocarina of Time does not work anymore. Where should I look for a new update?

 

[Selver]

Hey, so I followed the guide here, and got all the way to Booting the Homebrew, but once I do, my DS just jumps back to the home screen, and I cant find any of the apps or anything anywhere? Any idea what I did wrong?

This is typically because of not having a boot.3dsx file in the root of the SD card. Most people use the starter pack. If you are getting the message "an error has occurred", then it's likely a failed launch... launch rates vary from as low as 20% to upwards of 80%. Only when using A9LH is launch rate going to be 100%.

Ocarina of Time does not work anymore. Where should I look for a new update?

The place many will reference for homebrew exploit status:
https://www.3dbrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Exploits